Rubik's Cube Patent

[Lars Petrus]

I'm sorry to inform you, but Seven Towns has already gotten most of the Rubik's cube related apps taken down from the app store, and put up their own official app.

There is maybe a dozen cube apps in the app store, aside from the official ones. Actual cubes, not timers etc.

Just from looking at them, I get the impression that if you just don't mention the word "Rubik's" anywhere, you're fine. That would make sense, since that is their trademark and brand.

Do you have any more specific information about these bans?

 

[~Adam~]

I always have trouble solving the corner with 2 yellow stickers.

 

[cubeschrauber]

Do you have any more specific information about these bans?

I'm aware of this case: http://cubecheater.efaller.com/
I was looking for software which recognizes a cube from pictures because i also developed something similar for webcams. This guy was faster but seems to have trouble.

I always have trouble solving the corner with 2 yellow stickers.

That's why i prefer this cube:

 

[Stefan]

How about an internally bandaged 6x6x6?

 

[Lars Petrus]

I'm aware of this case: http://cubecheater.efaller.com/
I was looking for software which recognizes a cube from pictures because i also developed something similar for webcams. This guy was faster but seems to have trouble.

Thanks!

There is also this, from a slightly happier time: http://ericfaller.com/blog/category/cubecheater/

It does seem that it's a hopeless business to try to sell cube software in this world.

The saddest part of all this is that the company may well not even have these legal rights, but it might cost millions to get a court decide that, so the law doesn't really matter.


Then again, why are there still a dozen cube apps in the store?

 

[cubeschrauber]

I think i know the answer. It took me some time to create the arrow displaying one move. After having done that i looked at Faller's video wondering how he solved the problem displaying moves. He was using this arrow:

You may compare this to the arrow which is currently used by "the official" app from apples app store which is this:

I think this makes clear what happened to E. Faller's software. I have to apologize for my naivety.

 

[Lucas Garron]

I think i know the answer.

I do, too.

At the table with the app solving content at European Championships, I remarked to the Rubik's representative that the official Rubik's app had the best touch interface I'd ever seen (and I've tried quite a few cube apps). The Rubik's representative then told me that they actually got the code from someone else. When I inquired a bit more, I received approximately the following words: "It's not right to take somebody else's name and something they made and profit from it." The guy was nice and well-meaning, but wow. Now I know what the term "cognitive dissonance" really means.

I don't know what app the touch interface came from, so I don't know if that app actually used the "Rubik" name. However, CubeCheater has actually been subsumed into the official Rubik's app as "Solver" mode.

So, they essentially stole two brilliant interfaces with threats to come up with the only decent product I've seen from them in a while.

Considering how much it costs to develop such good app interfaces (thousands of dollars) and those original developers probably put a lot of their own time into it, I do see it as stealing, even if those developers did get some compensation. (I don't know if they did, but considering the CubeCheater story I don't think it was very voluntary for Eric.)
I know it's hard for Rubik's, but I would rather that they innovate, instead of wielding their vague trademark (about an intrinsically interesting mathematical puzzle) whenever they feel like it.


I originally felt a little iffy about Eric Faller, but that's probably because he wasn't in the community – and I'm quite sorry for him now. If Rubik's ever threatens a standing member of the community who comes up with a good product, I hope we can raise such a ruckus that they let us do the right thing. If I ever make an app myself, that is where my trust will lie.

Disclaimer: I don't really know anything besides what's on the CubeCheater site and what I saw and heard in Hungary. But this is what it seems like to me. It agrees with the company's standard behavior with the trademark, as is sort of being discussed in this thread.

 

[appdev]

Just an update on this, we develop the top downloaded free cube timer app on the iOS.

It would seem that even if you do not have the word Rubiks anywhere in your app, even if you do not use images of their product (we used various speed cubes and generics for our images), even if you are a just a timer, and you are free to download (we do have ads), you are not immune from getting the email from Rubiks security dept. which we received last Saturday.

I guess that clears up their stance on the matter

 

[cubeschrauber]

Again got mail from them. The description of my app says it's able to solve the Rubik's Cube which clearly means that it's a cube invented by Erno Rubik ;-) What if i develop an app which measures the size of an apple?

 

[kinch2002]

...then Apple would sue you obviously

 

[cubeschrauber]

You won't believe, but here in good old Germany the term "Weltuntergangsparty" which means something like "apocalyptic party" is patented (i mean patented and not legally protected). A number of innkeepers were sued because they celebrated "Weltuntergangsparties" at the end of last year. Don't know the end of the story but this (the patent) is crazy enough.

 

[Stefan]

You won't believe, but here in good old Germany the term "Weltuntergangsparty" which means something like "apocalyptic party" is patented (i mean patented and not legally protected).

1. It is not patented.
2. Patents are legal protection.

 

[qqwref]

Again got mail from them. The description of my app says it's able to solve the Rubik's Cube which clearly means that it's a cube invented by Erno Rubik ;-) What if i develop an app which measures the size of an apple?

Perhaps that is the only problem, and simply changing it to something like "able to solve a 3x3x3 puzzle cube" would be good enough.